Husker Baseball Is Omaha Bound
Husker fans remember it all too well. The 2020 and 2021 Big Ten Baseball Tournaments were canceled due to COVID. When the tournament resumed last year in Omaha, it was a given that Nebraska would be playing in it. There would be great crowds just like the ones who showed up to cheer Nebraska in 2019 when the tourney was also held in Omaha.
But not so fast.
The Huskers failed to keep their end of the bargain last year. After a 2021 season that saw Nebraska finish 34-14 overall and go 2-2 in the Arkansas Regional, the Huskers didn't qualify for the 2022 tourney because of a disappointing 23-30 record.
This year, Nebraska baseball will be competing for the conference title for the first time since 2019 when the Huskers lost to Ohio State in Omaha at what was then called TD Ameritrade Park. Earlier in that tournament, the Huskers beat Minnesota (8-2) and Iowa (11-1), lost to Michigan (8-18) and beat Michigan (7-3) to set up the championship game with Ohio State. Nebraska had everything going for it that night. The game was played in the Huskers' own backyard in Omaha in front of 17,000 red-clad Husker fans. However, that wasn't enough as the Buckeyes eked out a 3-1 win to take the conference crown.
This past weekend after sweeping 11th-place conference foe Penn State, the Huskers stand at 29-20-1 overall and 13-8 in conference play. Next weekend's three-game road series with the eighth-place Purdue Boilermakers will end the Huskers' regular season.
If Nebraska can sweep that series, or even win it, the Huskers may have some momentum going into this month's B1G tourney.
What does Nebraska have going for it in this year's tournament besides the home field advantage? The Huskers rank third in the conference in team batting (.303), third in pitching (4.85 ERA) and tied for first in fielding percentage (.978). The Huskers are led by some of the best hitters in the conference: Max Anderson (.409), Brice Matthews (.380) and Gabe Swansen (.312).
But what causes some to doubt the Huskers' chances this year is the fact that Nebraska has stubbed its toe losing to teams it shouldn't lose to — like UNO, South Dakota State, North Dakota State and a so-so Creighton team.
Nebraska has also struggled at times trying to find a Sunday starter. If the Huskers can right their ship, they might be able to challenge Indiana and Maryland for the conference title. Remember, if Nebraska doesn't win the conference championship, it's doubtful the Huskers will qualify for an at-large NCAA Tournament berth.
Needless to say, Nebraska can use all the help it can get.
Note to Husker fans: Fill Chalres Schwab Field (CWS Stadium), wear red and be loud!
Did I say be loud?
How ’Bout Them Huskers
Will and I had a great interview with Bill Williams in this week's podcast. Bill is co-founder of Patriotic Productions, a nonprofit that honors military veterans and Gold Star families. Bill talks about the parade and concert his organization is putting on Saturday morning, May 27th, in downtown Omaha. He describes what he had to do to get a WWII P-51 Mustang fighter plane to come to Omaha for the event.